IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
High Street, BLACKWOOD, NP12 1AY

Known as Blackwood Miners' Institute. Funded by threepence deductions from local miner's weekly wagepackets and is dated 1925 - the year prior to the General Strike. In its early heyday it offered dances, snooker and billiards tables, reading rooms, library, rehearsal rooms and meeting rooms for local clubs, groups and societies, a ladies room, stage and auditorium and a focal point for the town. It fell into disrepair and decay in the 1970's and 1980's and was taken over by the local council who regenerated it and today it enjoys a second heyday. Here two lady joggers run by on a sunny autumn Sunday morning.

With a lovely piece of public art - a sculpture of a ring doughnut with a bite taken out and then discarded, symbolising the sweetness and satisfaction of life and how this is often overlooked in our shallow existences where we are so easily distracted by the next thing to catch our eye or stimulate our tastebuds. I expect. Or something else altogether. Who knows?

Located outside Blackwood Miners' Institute, the sculpture is called The Ring of Eternity by Sebastien Boyesen. Inspiration for the piece came from the following text: "All things from Eternity are of like forms and come around in a full Circle". http://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/site.aspx?s=cL/nSRRHaT+rIiPA51SAKwe+116EeFPHy9AYhGOJ0/JpYJFNXO4UeA==

Facing North

Facing South

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, set back from the west side of High Street, opposite the Asda superstore.

Premises of the Blackwood detachment of the Army Cadet Force (ACF), Gwent & Powys battalion, formed in April 2009, on the amalgamation of Gwent ACF and Powys ACF. The role of the ACF is to inspire young people to achieve success with a spirit of service to the Queen, country and their local community, and to develop the qualities of good citizenship, responsibility and leadership.

Located near the north end of High Street, Blackwood, set back about 20 metres from the west side of the street. The view of the front of the church from High Street (from the east) is obscured by trees, so this view is from the northeast through a gap in the trees.